But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. [Acts 7.55]
This is an interesting statement. The stoning had not yet begun and yet Stephen was staring into heaven and was seeing the glory of God, including Jesus standing at God's right hand. The Jewish people had only begun to shake their fists at Stephen and they were in a rage.
Why was Stephen staring into heaven at this point? Good question!
Most of us would respond to the rage of others against us by watching them closely. We would do this to avoid an attack. I know if had enraged a group to the point they were shaking fists at me, I would be watching them and looking for an escape route. But, not Stephen - he was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit!
So, we might conclude then that, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit looks like this: in the face of disaster, he is looking to heaven and not at the circumstances.
Oh yeah, and in the midst of looking to heaven, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit might get stoned.
But who could have known what impact the sight had on a young man in the mob? Saul of Tarsus was there, in full agreement with the stoning of Stephen, and God had an amazing plan for Saul.
Father, I am reminded today of the necessity of looking to You at all times and not concerning myself with the circumstances in which I find myself - particularly those in which religious people oppose me.
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